Chief Master Sgt. Richard D. Gordon is the Command Chief Master Sergeant, 127th Wing, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan. He represents the highest level of enlisted leadership and is the principle advisor to the 127th Wing Commander. Chief Gordon is responsible for all matters influencing the health, morale, welfare, and professional development of Airmen assigned to the 127th Wing. The 127th Wing is home to more than 1,700 Citizen-Airmen operating both the A-10 and KC-135 aircraft, as well the host to more than 70 tenant organizations from all branches of the military and numerous Department of Homeland Security organizations. More than 5,000 Active, Guard, Reserve, and civilian personnel call Selfridge home.
Chief Gordon entered the Air Force in 1991, serving as a Fire Fighter assigned to the 927th Civil Engineering Squadron, U.S. Air Force Reserve, Selfridge ANGB, Michigan. In 1993 he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Social and Criminal Justice from Central Michigan University. In 1994 he chose to serve his nation both as an Airman and a U.S. Border Patrol Agent and was assigned to the southwest border of the United States in his civilian capacity. In conjunction with his relocation to the southwest, Chief Gordon transferred to the 377th Wing, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, where he continued to serve in the Air Force Reserve. In 2000 his civilian career brought him back home to Michigan when he transferred to the United States Border Patrol’s Detroit Sector. Chief Gordon enlisted with the 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard. In 2014, Chief Gordon detailed to the Office of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, where he served at the strategic level of leadership. While there, he worked directly with the Air Force First Sergeant Special Duty Manager to spearhead Total Force Initiatives, and authored a continuing education course for First Sergeants which is currently published by the Air Force Advanced Distributed Learning Service.
In his civilian capacity, Chief Gordon Served 25 years in the U.S. Border Patrol. In 1999 he served a one-year undercover assignment with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Drug Trafficking Task Force in Southern New Mexico and West Texas. He was promoted to the position of Supervisory Border Patrol Agent in 2006 and in 2007, he detailed to Headquarters Border Patrol, Washington D.C., where he led a number of critical programs directly impacting recruitment, retention, and training Border Patrol Agency wide. Since then, he has served in such capacities as Deputy Director of Marine Operations, Sector Intelligence Unit Supervisor, Executive Officer, Sector Asset Forfeiture Officer, and Watch Commander. In October 2019 he retired as a Special Operations Supervisor assigned to U.S. Border Patrol, Detroit Sector Headquarters. Prior to his current assignment, Chief Gordon served as Command Chief, 110th Wing, Battle Creek ANGB, Michigan.
EDUCATION
1993 Bachelor of Science; Sociology, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
2003 Associates Degree in Fire Science, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2007 Satellite NCO Academy, McGhee Tyson, Tenn.
2007 Master of Science; Administration, Central Michigan University, Clinton Township, Mich.
2009 Air Force First Sergeant Academy, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2011 Associates of Human Resource Management, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2012 Professional Manager Certification, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2014 Air Force Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Advanced Leadership Experience, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2016 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I/II, National Defense University, by correspondence
2016 Chief’s Executive Course, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2017 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
2017 Command Chief Master Sergeant Orientation Course, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Andrews AFB, Md.
2018 Continuous Process Improvement for Executives, Duke University, Durham, N.C.
2019 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates Inc., Washington D.C.
2020 Leading Strategically, Centers for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2020 Transnational Issues Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates Inc., Alexandria Va. 2021 Senior Enlisted Legal Orientation, Air Force Judge Advocate General’s School, by correspondence
2021 Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Keenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.
2021 Air Force Command Chief’s Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1991–December 1994, Fire Fighter, 927th Civil Engineering Squadron, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
2. December 1994–May 1996, Fire Fighter, 377th Civil Engineering Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
3. June 2001–October 2009, Fire Fighter, 127th Civil Engineering Squadron, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
4. October 2009–March 2013, First Sergeant, 127th Security Forces Squadron, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
5. March 2013–September 2017, First Sergeant, 127th Wing, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
6. September 2017–March 2020, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 110th Attack Wing, Battle Creek ANGB, Mich.
7. March 2020–Present, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 127th Wing, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
CIVILIAN EMPLOYMENT
1. December 1994–July2000, U.S. Border Patrol, Patrol Agent, Las Cruces, N.M.
2. July 2000–July 2006, U.S. Border Patrol, Patrol Agent, Detroit, Mich.
3. July 2006–January 2014, U.S. Border Patrol, Supervisory Agent, Detroit, Mich.
4. January 2014–January 2015, U.S. Border Patrol, Supervisory Agent, CBP Air/Marine Branch, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
5. January 2015–January 2016, U.S. Border Patrol, Supervisory Agent, Sector Intelligence Unit, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
6. January 2016–July 2017, U.S. Border Patrol, Watch Commander, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
7. July 2017–October 2019, Special Operations Supervisor, U.S. Border Patrol, Detroit Sector, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATION
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
NCO Academy Distinguished Graduate
(Current as of September 2021)